Combined rail and guard for store counters



July 27, 1937. F. c. wooD `COMBNED `RAIL AND GUARD FOR STORE COUNTERS Filed Feb. 1G, 1955 imm www

Patented July 27, 1937 UNITED STATES COMBINED RAIL AND' GUARD FOR S' .l"()ltl`.` COUNTERS Fred C. Wood, Winnetka, lll., assignor to Montgomery Ward & Co., Incorporated, Chicago,

Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 16, 1935, Serial No. 6,789

16 Claims.

It is now current practice in the display of small articles in chain stores to place the articles on open counters or tables distributed over the floor space of the store. On each table or counter a space is allotted for the various classes of the articles, and these spaces are divided to provide small bins or receptacles in which the articles of the various classifications are located. Ordinarily, a wood flange rail is screwed to the edges of the counter or table top so as to confine the articles on the table top, and prevent the same passing from the bins and dropping onto the licor. invariably, however, with these wooden ange rails, a false bottom is also placed on the table top, so as to ll up the space and elevate the various articles to a point nearer the top edge of the iiange rail. Ordinarily, no provision is made for adjustability of the size of the spaces or bins, and these spaces always have remained in fixed dimensions. No provision is made for enlarging or diminishing the size of the bins or receptacles, or to enable adjacent counters or tables to be moved together, and thereby provide for a greatly enlarged area of surface for receivr ing the articles to be displayed.

' It is the object of the present invention to provide a combined rail and guard for store counters or tables which will avoid the objections noted, and which may be readily applied to the table or counter tops in order to afford the required space for the display of the articles, and still prevent the latter passing from. the tops and dropping to the floor.

The invention also aims to provide a combined rail and guard of the character referred to the construction of which is such that it may be eX- peditiously placed in position at the edges of the table or counter tops without special fitting, and which, when so applied, will present a neat and ornamental effect without sharp corners or projections that may result in injury to customers in examining the contents displayed by the table or counter.

The invention also has in contemplation a combined rail and guard such as referred to which will readily adapt itself to different sizes of tables or counters and permit adjustment to the latter regardless of the size of the space on which the articles to be displayed are placed.

Furthermore, the present invention affords a combined rail and guard through the medium of which a plurality of tables or counters may be brought together, should occasion require the enlargement of the display space to such proportions, the construction of the rail and guard be- (Cl. S12-137) p ing such that the edges of the tables so related may be provided with the rail and guard, or the space afforded by the combination of the counters or tables subdivided into smaller display spaces and these spaces bounded by the rail or guard to confine therein various articles of differing classifications.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consisting substantially in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and nally pointed out in` the appended claims.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a perspective viewof a display table or counter equipped with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof, as on the line 2 2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the corner splicer, as on the line 3 3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the combined rail and guard adapted to a further application of the same;

Fig. 5 is also a transversesectional view, as on the line 5 5, Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentaryv sectional view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 4, as on the line 6 6 in that figure.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawing, the table top I0 has a metallic rail I I arranged at its edges so as to form a guard which extends continuously around the entire top. This guard is formed of metal and is rolled to shape. It includes a hollow member generally of inverted U-shape, being open at its bottom and adapted toV overhang the surface of the top Il). The rail Il is provided with a vertically-disposed outer flange I2 which seats at oneY of its sides against the edge of the table or counter top, and this flange I2 terminates in an inwardly extending toe flange I3 which is bent at right angles to the flange I2 and ts beneath and engages the under side of the top of the table or counter. The rail Il also has a vertically-disposed inner flange I4. This is of less length than the outer flange I2, the two anges being parallel and spaced apart, and the lower or free edge of said inner ange I4 seats on the surface of the top of the table or counter. The flanges I2 and I4 are disposed in upstanding relation to the top I0 and project above the surface of the top when the rail I I is applied to the latter. When applied in the manner indicated, the rail II is detachflanges I8 of the corner splicers.

ably held on the edges of the table or counter top by a plurality of screws i5, but obviously displaceable from the table or counter top by the removal of these screws. Because the outer flange l2 is of greater length than the inner flange, the former is provided with a depending portion which seats against the edge of the table or counter top and receives the screws l5 to support the rail I i thereon. The rail Il is of such height with respect to the table or counter topl as to provide the required depth for accommodation of the articles to be displayed, and at the same time to prevent the articles being displaced from the top and dropping on the floor. The inner flange Ill cooperates with the upper surface Vof the table or counter top I0 for determining the height of the rail II above the top to serve as a guard. Thus, the necessity for false bottoms commonly employed with the wooden guard rail ordinarily used is avoided, andthe articles to beV displayed may be placed directly upon the table or counter top and arranged in the required manner for their presentation to the view of the customers.

As illustrated in Fig. l, the rail il may be cut to predetermined measurements with respect to its length so as to t the side and the end edges of a table or counter top. At the corners, and in order to cover the adjacent ends of the side and end rails, angular splicer members It are employed. The cross sectional contour of these splicer members is the same as the cross sectional contour of the rail II so as to conform to the shape of the rail. Each splicer includes two arms which extend at right angles to each other, and as applied to the adjacent ends of the side and end rails I!, the splicers fit over the spaces between these ends, and thus effectually close those spaces. In order to conform to the shape of the rail II each splicer I6 has an cuter flange il and an inner flange i8 which is relatively shorter than the outer flange I'I. The latter is provided also with an inwardly extending toe flange i9 the inner edge of which terminates in a resilient gripping tongue 20. v

When the corner splicers I6 are applied to the adjacent ends of the side and end rails II, it is but necessary to force the splicers into position over these contiguous ends of the side and end rails, thus positioning the outer flanges H Aover the outer flanges i2 of the guard rail, with the inner anges I8 likewise in position over the inner flanges IG of the guard rail. The toe iiange I 9 likewise seats upon the toe ange I3, but the gripping tongue 20 snaps over the free edge of the toe I3, thereby holding the two flanges I3 and I9 in engagement with each other. This avoids the necessity for employing other fastenings to maintain the corner splcers in position, the gripping tongues 2!) being suiflcient for this purpose.

At times it is desirable to combine two or more tables or counters in order to enlarge the display space for the articles on sale. When tables are thus combined the sides thereof present greater lengths than the length of the rail l I as ordinarily cut, and this requires appropriate fastening means for adjacent ends of the rails when aligned along the edges of the tops of the counters or tables. As illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, a side splicer 2| is employed for this purpose. It includes an outer ange 22, similar to the flanges I'I of the corner splicers, and an inner shorter flange 23, similar to the Vinner The side splicers also are provided with inwardly extending toe flanges 24, vand these toe flanges fit over the toe flanges I3 of the siderails. The contiguous ends of the aligned side rails II, therefore, are embraced by the side splicers 2l, the latter covering the spaces between the adjacent ends and presenting a finished appearance at these points.

To hold the side splicers 2| in position each is provided with an elongated Spanner bar 25 of somewhat greater length than the length of the splicer itself so that the ends of the bar extend beyond the ends of the splicer. The Spanner bar 25 occupies a position within the Vside rails and the side splicer, as illustrated in Fig. 6, and is held upon the splicer 2| by a fastening screw 26. This screw is fitted in an opening at approximately the mid-portion of the splicer 2l, the threaded shank of the screw engaging a threaded opening in the Spanner bar. By tightening the screw 26 it will be apparent that the ends of the Spanner-bar 25 will ybe pressed into engagement with the inner faces of the aligned ends of the side rails, while the head Yof the screw 25 binds the splicer 2l into engagement with the outer faces of such aligned ends. A tight engagement, therefore, is effected between the side splicer and the adjacent aligned ends of the side rails.

It will be understood that in the use of the hereindescribed rail and guard the depthof space for receiving the articles to be displayed may be increased by using the commonly-employed glass panel rails generally associated with display tables and counters. By the employment of proper holding clips or brackets these panel rails may be mounted in proximity to the hereindescribed rail and guard, and thus increase the depth of space for display of the articles on sale. In the use of these glass panel rails the hereindescribed rail and guard eifectually will hold the same on the table or counter top' and prevent their displacement therefrom. Y

The present invention is capable of inexpensive production'due to the fact that the rail may be rolled to the desired shape and cut in lengths that may be suitable for the ordinary sized tables or counter tops. It may be readily adjusted to varying sizes or areas of tops, and thereby adapt itself to the provision of bins or display spaces of varying sizes, and it readily lends itself also to the combining of a plurality of tables when display space of such an enlarged area is'required.

I claim:

1. A combined rail and guard of the class described, comprising a hollow flanged member adapted for application to the edge of a table or counter top and including inner and outer flanges arranged to extend above the table or counter top, the outer flange being adapted to ranged to extend above the table or counter top,Y

the outer ange being relatively wide and adapted to seat with its lower portion against the edge cf the top, the inner flange being relatively narrow and adapted to engage the surface of the top, and means for fastening the member-to the top. Y Y

3. A combined rail and guard of the class described, comprising a hollow member substantially U-shaped in cross section and adapted for application to the edge of a table or counter top to extend above thetop of the table or counter, one face of said member being constituted by a relatively wide flange adapted to seat with its .lower portion against the edge of thev top, the

other face ofsaid member being constituted by a relatively narrow flange adapted to engage the surface of the top, and means for fastening the member to the top.

4. A combined rail and guard ofr the class described, comprising a hollow flanged member adapted for application to the edge of a table or counter top and including inner and outer flanges arranged to extend upwardly from said top, the outer flange being adapted to seat against the edge of the top, the inner'lange being adapted to engage the surface of the top, the free edge of the outer flange being provided with an inwardly extending toe flange adapted to extend beneath the under surface lof the top, and means for fastening the member to the top.

5. A'combined rail and guard of the class deanges of the side edge and end members to close the space therebetween.

6. A combined rail and guard of the class described, comprising hollow flanged members adapted for application to the side edges and endsV of a table or counter top and including inner and outer upstanding ilanges which project above the surface of said top when said members are applied to the latter, and a corner splicer member for the adjacent ends of the'members arranged at the side edges and ends of the table or counter top, said corner splicer including angularly disposed arms each of which is provided with inner and outer flanges adapted to embrace the inner and outer viianges of the side edge and end members to close the space therebetween.

7. A combined rail and guard of the class described, comprising hollow flanged members adapted for application to the side edges and ends of a table or counter top and including inner and outer spaced upstanding flanges, and a corner splicer member for the adjacent ends of the members arranged at the side edges and ends of the table or counter top, said corner splicer including angularly disposed arms each of which is provided with inner and outer flanges adapted to embrace the inner and outer flanges of the side edge and end members to 'close the space therebetween, the outer flanges of the splicer engage the surface of the top, means for fastening the outer flanges to the top, and a corner splicer memberfor the adjacent ends of .said hollow members arranged at the side edges and ends of the table orcounter to-p, said corner splicer including angularly disposed arms each ofv which is providedwith innerand outer flanges, the

outer flange being relatively wide and adapted to embrace the outer flanges of said hollow members, the innerflange being relativelynarrow and adapted to embrace the inner flange of the hol"- .low members, said splicer serving to close the space between the adjacent ends of the side and counter top and arranged in aligned relation, said Vmembers having flange portions arrangedto eX- tend upward from said top, and a splicer member located at the contiguous ends of said aligned members and overlappingthe same, and means for locking the splicer member into'engagement with the contiguous ends of said aligned members.

10. A combined rail and guard of the class described, comprising hollow flanged members adapted for application to the edge of a table or counter top and arranged in aligned relation v with their adjacent ends separated, said members having flange portions arranged to extend upward from said top, a splicer member -formed of a hollow flanged member corresponding in cross sectional contour to said hollow flanged members located at the adjacent ends of said flanged members and overlapping the same, and means for locking the splicer member into engagement with the adjacent ends of the aligned iianged members.

11. A combined rail and guard of the class described, adapted for application to the edge of a table or counter top and arranged in aligned relation with their adjacent ends separated, a splicer member located at the adjacent ends of said aligned members and overlapping the same, a spanner bar associated with said splicer member Y comprising hollow flanged members described, comprising hollow flanged members adapted for application to the edge of a table or counter top and arranged in aligned relation with their adjacent ends separated, a splicer ',member located at the adjacent ends of said aligned members and overlapping the same, an elongated Spanner bar associated with said splicer member and disposed within the hollow hanged members to adapt its ends to contact with the inner faces' of said flanged members, and connecting means between the splicer member and said Spanner bar serving to compress the splicer member and the spanner bar in relation to the ends of the aligned flanged members and thereby lock the'parts together.

13. A combined rail and guard of the class described, comprising a hollow member adapted for application to the edge of a table or counter fastening the depending portion of the outer flange to the table or counter top.

14. A combined rail and guard of the class described, comprising a hollow member open at its bottom and adapted to overhang the surface of a table or counter top at an edge thereof, said member including vertical inner and outer parallel flanges arranged in spaced relation, the

vinner ilange cooperating With the upper surface oi the table or counter toprfor determining the height of the rail above said top to serve as a guard, the outer flange depending below the lower edge of the inner ange and adapted tol seat against the edge of the table or counter top to support the rail thereon, and means for fastening said depending portion of the outer iiange to the table or counter top.

15. Av combined rail and guard of the class described, comprising a member of inverted U- shape adapted to overhang the surface of a table or counter top at an edge thereof, the side Walls of said member constituting spaced inner and outer parallel anges, the inner flange cooperating with the upper surface of the table or counter top for determining the height of the rail above said top to serve as a guard, the outer flange extending below the lower edge of the inner flange and adapted to be seated at one of its sides against the edge of the table or counter top to support the rail thereon, and means for fastening said extended portion of the outer iiange to the table or counter top.

16. A combined rail and guard of the class described, comprising a hollow member adapted for application to the edge of a table or counter top and including vertically-disposed spaced inner and outer parallel iianges, the inner ilange cooperating with the upper surface of the table or counter top for determining the height of the rail above said top'to serve as a guard, the outer ange being of greater Width than the inner ange to provide a depending portion adapted to be seated at one of its sides against the edge of the table or counter top to support the rail thereon, the lower edge of the outer flange having an inwardly-extending toe flange adapted to project beneath the under Surface of the table or counter top and engage the same, and means for fastening the member to the table or counter top.

FRED C. WOOD, 

